Faith-in-Training

Recently, I was driving around town and found myself behind an extremely slow-moving minivan. Suddenly, it stopped at a green light in a right turn lane, then forgot to signal and advanced into the other lane, almost hitting the divider. My impatience got the best of me as I pulled up alongside the vehicle to catch a glimpse of the errant driver.

“Do I need to dial 911 and get some assistance on the road? This person is clueless, distracted and probably texting while driving”, I thought nervously while I passed judgment.

Finally, both of our cars pulled up to a red light and I casually craned my neck to investigate, my face set with a firm look of disapproval that was sure to set them straight! To my surprise, it was a sheepish and sweet-faced 15 ½ year old boy with his mother sitting next to him in the passenger seat. Her hand was gripping the handle above the passenger door, (You know that handle for those of you who have teenage drivers) while he looked every bit like a deer in the headlights.

My demeanor completely changed in an instant.

“Ohhhh, he’s a driver-in-training… That totally makes sense! I remember those days… Been there done that”, I murmured to myself.

It’s interesting how quickly my response towards the driver changed, once I understood the full picture and was able to see the road from his vantage point and not mine.

I thought about this experience and the people in our lives who drive us crazy with the way they navigate through life. We don’t agree with their decisions, or the way they’ve responded to whatever circumstances or challenges they’ve been facing. It’s easy to pull up from behind and tailgate them from a place of pride and self-righteousness, instead of grace and understanding.

Do you have people like this in your life? You see them making decisions that you don't agree with. Or you watch them respond to challenges they may be experiencing from a place of incessant worry, fear, deep insecurity and even anger. Maybe you don’t agree with or approve of where they are in their faith journey and think they should be "further along" or "more mature" in their faith. Do you find yourself impatient with their “faith-in-training” process?

Proverbs 14:29 reminds us:

“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.”

When we come alongside people and see the road from their viewpoint, suddenly things make sense to us and it’s much easier to be gracious and patient with them. 

Things come into focus and we begin to understand the WHY behind what they’re doing, in a way that not only makes sense but helps us to grow in compassion towards them. I have learned that there is always a back story to what you might see on the front page of someone's life.

 

A few things to think about:

• Consider the many people where you or I have tested their patience, annoyed and driven them crazy with the way we navigate our challenges and decisions. The grace we extend always come back to us when we need it as well.
• Can you remember a time when you found yourself navigating obstacles in your life in a similar way? If so, take a minute to thank God for how far you have come along!
• Have you taken time to come alongside others in a way that gives you greater understanding and insight on how to love, pray and support them during their faith-in-training process?
• God uses challenging people for OUR faith-in-training process. Consider the unloving qualities that are revealed in us when we judge a person without first seeking Christ’s perspective: self-righteousness, impatience, anger and pride. God uses these relationships to train your faith to display qualities that reflect the heart of Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23 says:

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Finally, on this side of eternity, we are ALL in training!

We will serve each other well if we remember to see things from God's vantage point. Thankfully, He’s given us the greatest Faith Training Manual – the Bible – to help us in our faith-in-training journey so we can help others as we grow!

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

”

— 2 Timothy 3:17 The Message